UWC Costa Rica is Getting Ready to Move to a New Campus

 
Since its opening in 2006, close to 1,500 alums and current students have experienced the UWC Costa Rica experiential learning model in Santa Ana downtown, a campus inherited from SOS Villages and adapted for the UWC lifestyle. As the college has evolved over the years, the ambition and possibilities of expanding the impact and accessibility to UWC Costa Rica grew alongside it, and thanks to the sheer generosity of Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, UWC Costa Rica was able to start the dream of building a new campus aligned with its mission, principles, and values.

Fueled by the We Are United campaign and with the Sustainability Framework deeply embedded within, UWC Costa Rica's new campus in San Isidro de Heredia allows the college to expand its mission to a broader audience, increase its capacity and scholarship opportunities and provide a unique space immersed in nature to foster a new generation of agents of change.

UWC Costa Rica is expected to open its new campus in 2026.
 

A Bigger, More Accessible Campus for All

The new campus and Sustainability and Innovation Center will support  Costa Rica, Latin America, and the world in advancing its commitment to:

  • Develop conscious global citizens who are empowered and inspired to take action individually and collectively to help address the world's most significant challenges, mainly related to peace and sustainability. 
  • Co-create education for all people to advocate for peace, sustainability, and international understanding to promote innovative solutions and community engagement opportunities.
  • Build a cutting-edge and innovative infrastructure to set a precedent and be a reference for sustainable construction that, at its core, supports the reciprocity of energy efficiency practices and nature conservation also embedded in each educational component of the campus.
  • Become a living laboratory whereby the community is immersed in restoring and protecting 96 acres (39 hectares) for conservation and educational purposes; models that are scalable and replicated elsewhere.

Sustainability and Innovation Center

The Sustainability and Innovation Center will incorporate innovative learning methodologies and sustainable systems, becoming a hub of educational innovation and social transformation where leading global partnerships can scale impact, facilitate access to educational experiences, and leverage financial stability for UWC Costa Rica. This space will become an exceptional opportunity to unite with leading global partners to amplify our influence as advocates for sustainability, social justice, and peace. Together, we'll expand access to life-changing educational experiences for youth in Costa Rica and worldwide.